BOSTON, Mass.— The Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation (JPNDC) has received a $250,000 grant from Capital One to launch an innovative housing initiative aimed at helping small business owners who provide at-home early childhood education achieve housing stability and homeownership.
The funding will support the acquisition of workforce housing for educators in JPNDC’s network, helping address the growing challenges posed by rising housing costs across Boston and the South Shore. The program is designed to strengthen both housing security and small business sustainability by creating pathways to homeownership for entrepreneurs who serve families and children throughout the region.
“JPNDC’s roots are in community, and affordable housing and supporting local businesses are at the cornerstone of our mission,” said Teronda Ellis, CEO of Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation. “Small businesses are the economic engine of our economy. Educators have deep roots in the communities they serve, and with rising costs, many are facing displacement because they cannot control expenses, the largest being housing. Through the generosity of Capital One, this program will enable us to provide economic stability to these small businesses, so they can continue to support working families across Boston and in the South Shore.”
The grant will help cover down payments, broker fees, and closing costs for multifamily properties in Boston and the South Shore, where many participating educators already live and operate their businesses. Through a lottery system, eligible applicants will have access to two homeownership pathways.
Educators who are financially prepared to purchase immediately will have the opportunity to acquire turnkey housing units with down payment assistance. A second lottery will support a pilot rent-to-own program, offering financial coaching, credit-building assistance, and a structured path to ownership for entrepreneurs who need additional support before entering the housing market.
According to JPNDC, housing instability poses a significant threat to the viability of many small businesses. Rental arrangements often leave business owners vulnerable to rising costs, uncertain lease renewals, and potential displacement—factors that can undermine long-term planning, customer retention, and business growth.
“Safe and stable housing isn’t just a personal concern for neighborhood business owners; it’s the foundation of their success and financial well-being,” said Jean Li, Managing Vice President and Head of Community Impact and Investment at Capital One. “Affordable housing has a tangible ripple effect, helping local businesses, employees, and entire communities thrive.”
More than 100 educators currently participate in JPNDC’s network, operating small businesses that provide childcare services across Jamaica Plain, Roxbury, Mattapan, surrounding Boston neighborhoods, and portions of the South Shore. According to the organization, half of those educators have expressed serious concerns about housing stability, while 30 have already been displaced from Boston in recent years, taking their businesses and childcare services with them.
Local and state leaders praised the initiative as a model for addressing interconnected challenges related to housing affordability, childcare access, and economic opportunity.
“As we fight to keep Boston affordable, we cannot overlook the vital role early childhood educators play in the fabric of our neighborhoods,” said Boston City Councilor Ben Weber. “Without access to childcare services, working families suffer. JPNDC’s innovative homeownership program is exactly the kind of community-driven solution we need—protecting our small businesses, stabilizing families, and ensuring that the people who care for our children can actually afford to live in the communities they serve.”
JPNDC officials said the educator housing set-aside program is modeled after successful artist housing initiatives implemented in cities nationwide. The organization hopes the pilot can serve as a blueprint for other community development corporations, municipalities, and state agencies seeking to preserve affordability while supporting essential workforce sectors.
The rent-to-own component is specifically designed for educators whose businesses generate stable income but who face barriers to competing in Boston’s highly competitive housing market. By creating a pathway to ownership, the program seeks to lock in housing costs, strengthen financial security, and provide opportunities for long-term wealth creation.
“As we face a housing crisis that is pushing out working families, innovation like this is key to making sure everyone who wants to stay in Massachusetts can stay,” said State Representative Samantha Montaño. “A double win is the incredibly creative solution to work to address childcare access as well. I’m deeply proud to represent JPNDC and of their work to build community for everyone.”
State Senator Liz Miranda emphasized the broader economic and social impact of the initiative.
“We need investments in deeply affordable homeownership as a tool to tackle the racial wealth gap and ensure longtime residents are not pushed out of the communities they helped build,” Miranda said. “This innovative partnership recognizes that housing stability and small business stability go hand in hand. By supporting educators and entrepreneurs with pathways to ownership, we are creating opportunities for families to build generational wealth while preserving the trusted neighborhood institutions our communities rely on every day.”
